Liquid measuring and dispensing device



July 23, 1940. H. A. STRINGFELLOW LIQUID MEASURING AND DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Aug. 15, 1938 INVENTOR HENRY A. STRINGFELLOW v I l Q I Q I l u I l I l I I I i l I i I z WU ATTORNEYS I Patented July 23,1940 I 1,208,862

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC 2,208,882 I uoum MEASURING AND msrcnsmc nnvrcr:

Henry A. Stringfeilow, New York, N. Y., assignor of one-half to Francis Woodburn, Garden City, Lon Island, N.'Y.

Application August 15, 1938, Serial No. 224,875 6 Claims. (01.221-14'7) This invention relates to liquid measuring and in the receptacle 4 near head 5 thereof to provide dispensing devices of the type adapted to be ata liquid inlet chamber 8. The tube 3 extends tached to a supply container and which measures through the head 5 into the chamber 8 and has a and delivers a predetermined quantity of liquid discharge opening 9 facing the side of the recep- 5 when tilted to pouring position. tacle 4 at which the pouring outlet 6 is located. 5

This invention has for an object to provide a The partition I has an opening I0 adjacent the measuring device which is rapid in operation by side of the receptacle 4 diametrically opposite the reason of the fact that delivery of liquid through pouring outlet 6 which is of a cross-sectional the pouring outlet commences immediately upon area at least equal to that of the tube 3. The

10 the tilting of the supply container and attached cross-sectional area of the pouring outlet 6 is 10 measuring d vice to ouring position. materially less than that of the tube 3 so that A further object is to provide a liquid measurthe rate of discharge of liquid through the pouring device of the character referred to which is of g outlet 6 is considerably slower than through simple, compact and inexpensive construction. the tube 3 which forms the inlet to the measuring A further object is to provide a measuring dereceptacle. By reason of the slower discharge l5 vice in which delivery of liquid is prevented until through the outlet 6 liquid will accumulate in the the device has been tilted to the proper pouring measuring pta l du ing the pourin p raand measuring position. tion. Means is provided to cut off the flow 01.

With the above and other objects in view the q d from the supply container to the measur- 50 invention may be said to comprise the device as ing receptacle upon the accumulation of a pre- 50 illustrated in the accompanying drawing, hereine rm n d v l m 1' liq id in h m in r after described and particularly set forth in the cep acle and to then permit the accumulated appended claims together with such variations liquid to discharge through the ou l the q and modifications thereof as will be apparent to y of liquid discharged upon each pouring opera- 5 those skilled in the art to which the invention tiOil being t which fiOW through he P u ing 26 appertains. Reference should be had to the ac- Outlet during the accumulation of the predetercompanying drawing forming a part of this specmined Volume f l q id in the measuring receptaification, in which: cle plus the predetermined volume in the measur- Figure 1 is an axial section showing th uring receptacle. For admitting air to the bottle i ing and dispensing device of the present invention Other liquid container t nce P essure and 80 attached to a bottle, the bottle and dispensing p mi fl W f liquid from the bottle into the device being tilted to pouring position and the measuring p a e an air vent tube ll extends level of the liquid in the measuring receptacle through the u e 3 into t ott e and t rou h having reached the flow cut-01f level; the partition 1 into the measuring portion of the Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the receptacle 4. Flow of liquid from the bottle to the liquid discharging from the measuring receptacle measuring receptacle s pped by cutting 11 the alter flow from the bottle to the measuring reflow of air through the vent tube II and. the sealceptacle has d; ing of the vent tube upon the accumulation of a Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line indicated at prede d v me of iq in t e co tai in Fig 1; is accomplished. by means of a liquid trap I 2 in.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing a modified the outer end Po t n of he re ptacle 4. The form of the invention, the measuring deviceand trap I2 is open at t inner d and s disp ed bottle being shown in upright position; substantially parellel to the axis of the receptacle Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing the measuring 80 that it Will retain liquid When the epta e s device of Fig. 4 in horizontal position. tilted Pa e h r o tal to a pouring position. 46

Referring to the accompanying drawing the The edge of the inner open end of the trap l2 on device of the present invention is shown applied the side thereof toward the discharge outlet is to a supply container in the form of a bottle I. preferably located substantially at the axis of the The bottle I is provided with a cork 2 through receptacle 4 and midway between the ends of the 50 which extends a liquid discharge tube 3. The measuring chamber. The tube ll extends into tube 3 supports a measuring receptacle 4 which the trap l2 with its open outer end in a position is preferably of cylindrical form and which has to be submerged in liquid in the trap l2 when the an inner head 5 attached to the tube 3. The reliquid overflows into the trap as shown in Fig. l. ceptacle 4 has a pouring outlet 6 adjacent one By reason of its.tilted position the trap i2 retains side of its outer head. A partition I is provided suflicient liquid to seal the vent tube II as shown 86 in Fig. 2 while the liquid is being discharged from the measuring chamber. when the bottle I is returned to upright position. the trap I2 is emptied and the liquid discharged from the trap and that contained in the chamber 8 flows back into the bottle. By reason of the fact that the edge of the trap l2 over which the liquid flows into the trap is located at the center of the measuring chamber, the volume of liquid in the measuring chamber when the liquid begins to overflow into. 7

the trap will be the same for various pouring angles, and the angle at which the receptacle is tilted for pouring may be varied without materially affecting the measuring action.

The inlet chamber 0 causes the discharge end of the tube 3 to be submerged in liquid during pouring and reduces turbulence in the measuring container. A baiiie I! may be provided over the open end of the trap I! to prevent spilling of liquid from the opening l0 into the trap. A small vent opening it may be provided in the receptacle l to maintain atmospheric pressure within the receptacle 4. In order to prevent loss oi! liquid through splashing, an inwardly directed tube may be positioned around the vent opening M. e

In Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawing a modified form of liquid trap is shown, the device being otherwise the same as that shownin Figs. 1 and 2.

The trap l5 shown in Figs. 3 and 4 has a reentrant edge portion ii at its inner end formin a recess I1 which will retain a small volume 0! liquid when the receptacle is in upright position. The side of the trap toward the pouring outlet 6 is bulged to' provide a liquid retaining depression l8 and the air vent tube It has a laterally bent end portion with its open end located in the depression I! of the trap. when the bottle and measuring receptacle are tilted toward pouring position the liquid in the recess ll flows into the depression I! and seals the vent tube I! while the receptacle is being tilted past horizontal position toward pouring position. As the receptacle comes to pouring position the liquid flows from the depression I! to the inner end-oi the trap permitting air to enter the vent tube whereupon liquid starts to flow from the bottle into the measuring receptacle. The flow continues until overflow of liquid into the trap again seals the vent tube whereupon flow of liquid from the bottle ceases and liquid accumulated in the measuring receptacle is discharged. As the bottle is tilted back to upright position the liquid retained in the trap I 5 seals the vent tube until the receptacle has been moved well past horizontal position.

The sealing of the vent tube duringtilting of the container to and from pouring position prevents the discharge of an additional amount of liquid should there be a pause in the tilting movement near horizontal position and prevents pouring at an angle lower than that at which the device iunctions efiectively.

The device of the present invention provides a simple device by means of which the liquid is measured while it is being poured and which contains liquid only during the pouring operation.

By reason of the fact that the liquid is measured during pouring the operation of the device is quite rapid. Since liquid is not retained in the measuring device, the measuring receptacle may be of relatively small size.

Furthermore, it is to be understood that the particular form of apparatus shown and described, and the particular procedure set forth,

are presented for purposes of explanation and illustration and that various modifications of said apparatus and procedure can be made without departing from my invention as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A device for delivering measured quantities of liquid from a supply container-comprising a measuring receptacle attached to the supply containensaid receptacle having an inlet through which liquid is received from the supply container when the container and receptacle are tilted and a pouring outlet, said receptacle providing a direct passage for liquid from the inlet to the outlet. said outlet being of a cross-sectional area materially less than that of said inlet, whereby the rate of flow of liquid into the receptacle in the tilted pouring position exceeds the rate of discharge through the pouring outlet and liquid accumulates in said receptacle during the pouring operation, and means controlled by the liquid accumulated above the pouring outlet and operable upon the accumulation of a predetermined volume of liquid in the tilted measuring receptacle for stopping the flow of liquid from the supply container to the receptacle while the liquid accumulated in the receptacle is discharged through the pouring outlet.

2. A device for delivering measured quantities of liquid from a supply container comprising a measuring receptacle attached to the supply container, said measuring receptacle having an inlet through which liquid is received from the supply container when the container and receptacle are tilted and a pouring outlet adjacent its outer end, said receptacle providing a direct passage for liquid from the inlet to the outlet, said outlet being of materially less cross-sectional area than said inlet, a vent tube through which air may pass from the measuring receptacle to the supply container, and means operable when said receptacle is tilted to pouring position for sealing said vent tube upon the accumulation or a predetermined volume of liquid in the measuring receptacle and for maintaining the seal during discharge oi. the accumulated liquid from the receptacle.

3. A device for delivering measured quantities of liquid from a supply container comprising a measuring receptacle attached to the supply container, said receptacle having an inlet through which liquid is received from the supply container when the container and receptacle are tilted and a pouring outlet, said receptacle providing a direct passage for liquid from the inlet to the outlet, said outlet being of a cross-sectional area materially less than that of said inlet, whereby the rate of flow of liquid into the receptacle in the tilted pouring position exceeds the rate of discharge through the pouring outlet and liquid accumulates in said receptacle during the pouring operation, a liquid trap within said receptacle positioned to retain liquid when the receptacle is in tilted pouring position and having an inlet opening into which liquid will flow into the trap when a predetermined volume of liquid has accumulated in the receptacle, and an air vent tube connecting the container and receptacle and having an opening within said trap whereby flow of air to the supply container is cut oil by liquid in said trap.

4. A device for delivering measured quantities of liquid from a supply container comprising a measuring receptacle attached to the supply container, said receptacle having an inlet through aaoaaea which liquid is received from the supply container when the container and receptacle are tilted and a pouring outlet of a cross-sectional area materially less than that 01' said inlet, whereby the rate of flow of liquid into the receptacle in the tilted pouring position exceeds the rate of discharge through the pouring outlet. a liquid trap within said receptacle having an opening spaced laterally of said pouring outlet through which liquid will flow into the trap whm a predetermined volume of liquid accumulates in the receptacle, said trap having a liquid retaining portion at the side thereof toward the pouring outlet and inwardly of said opening to retain a predetermined amount of liquid when the receptacle is in upright position and while the receptacle v is being tilted past horizontal position. and an air vent tube connecting the container and receptacle and having an opening within the liquid retaining portion of the cap and spaced from each end of said liquid retaining portion a distance such that the volume of liquid trapped at the inner end of said liquid retaining portion will be clear of the vent tube opening in the upright and pouring positions and will seal the vent tube opening as the receptacle is being tilted past horizontal position.

5. A device for delivering measured quantities of liquid from a supply container comprising a measuring receptacle having means at its inner end for attachment to a supply container and provided with an inlet through which liquid flows from the container into the receptacle, said receptacle having a pouring outlet at its outer end of a cross sectional area less than that of said inlet, said receptacle ibeing vented to the atmosphere and providing a direct passage for liquid from the inlet to the outlet, an air vent tubehaving its outer end within said receptacle and its inner end within the container, and a trap in the receptacle in which the outer end of said tube is disposed, said trap being positioned to retain liquid when the receptacle is in tilted pouring position and having an open side through which liquid flows freely to fill the trap and seal the vent tube upon a predetermined accumulation of liquid in the receptacle.

6. A device for delivering measured quantities of liquid from a supply container, comprising a combined discharge spout and measuring receptacle having an inlet through which liquid is received from the supply container and a pouring outlet to which the liquid passes directly from said inlet, said spout being of enlarged cross section between the inlet and outlet and said outlet being of less cross sectional area than said inlet whereby the liquid enters the spout faster than it is discharged therefrom and accumulates therein above the outlet, and means controlled by the liquid in the enlarged portion of the spout for automatically stopping the flow from the container into the spout upon the a predetermined volume oi! liquid in the spout.

HENRY A. S'I'RINGFHIOW.

accumulation oi 

